. >> didn't we learn in 2011, where the government seemed less stable and our triple-a rating went down to a double-a rating and right now, john thune was right, it takes time to bush legislation through and we can't have a deal cut on christmas eve. >> is this brinksmanship on behalf of the president and time geithner, his treasury secretary, in terms of what the dems are now offering congress? >> no, i think the president has made a riegsal offer and of course, it's an opening offer, but that silence is deafening for the republicans, for the republicans' response. their political lemmings getting ready to go off the fiscal cliff and rather do that and not violate the no tax pledge they made to grover norquist than to move the ball forward and resolve this for the american people. >> is it really about that, angela and dick, is it really about the pledge that was made to grover norquist, no new taxes? we hear eric cantor saying no new taxes and we know that the dems want to have taxes on the wealthy and also know that the republicans would like to see some spending cuts as well. >> it'